Faksa hat trick leads Rangers

Kitchener Rangers

OSHAWA — Kitchener Rangers centre Radek Faksa said he wanted to lead by example this season. And the Czech import is making good on his word.

The 19-year-old scored his first Ontario Hockey League hat trick as the Rangers defeated Oshawa 5-3 and spoiled the Generals' home opener Sunday night at the GM Centre.

"Finally I get a hat trick," he said. "It's my first one in like 12 years."

It was also Faksa's first three goals with the club since being reassigned to the OHL by the NHL's Dallas Stars earlier this week.

The 2012 first-round NHL draft pick was sent back to Kitchener to work on his game after an injury-filled sophomore campaign that saw him net just nine goals last season.

Upon his return, Faksa said he wanted to do his talking on the ice, in part to show last year was a fluke, but also to flex his leadership skills on a young Rangers squad.

His first goal was a technical tip off an Eric Ming shot. The second, a backhanded beauty between the legs of Oshawa goalie Dan Altshuller on a penalty shot. The tail end of the trick came from the slot.

Faksa went into the penalty shot with a blank slate.

"When I went to the backhand I saw the five-hole," he said. "I like that move and went for it. I'm happy it worked."

Sunday's affair also marked Josh Sterk's first match against his former mates.

The 18-year-old ex-Rangers centre was traded to Oshawa for a pair of draft picks two days before the season started and wasted no time burning his old teammates.

The Georgetown native scored one goal and added two helpers to give him eight points in four games with his new red, white and blue crew. The strong start has him tied for second overall in the OHL scoring race.

Sterk was shocked when he first heard about the deal from Kitchener general manager Murray Hiebert. But, after talking to his agent, waived his no-trade clause and agreed to the move.

"I didn't want to be in a place where I wasn't wanted," he said. "For me to make it to the next level, I need to be the guy who puts up points, not the third-line grinder that Kitchener was using me as."

In Oshawa, Sterk is getting second-line minutes and working on the power play and penalty killing units.

"I'm getting a lot more ice time," he said. "It's an amazing opportunity for me."

Sterk said it was weird playing against his former club. After all, he still has several close friends in Kitchener. The farewell to teammates, the day he was traded, still sticks out.

"Everyone said once a Ranger, always a Ranger, and I really took that to heart," he said.

Max Iafrate and Curtis Meighan notched their first goals of the season for the Rangers while Eric Ming and rookie Nick Magyar each had a pair of assists. Goalie Tyson Teichmann turned aside 21 shots for his second win.

Chris Carlisle and Brad Latour added singles for the Generals, who drop to 2-2.

The Rangers (2-2) are back in action Friday at home against the Sarnia Sting (1-3).

As for Faksa, he's hoping he doesn't have to go another dozen years before enjoying another hat trick.

"I hope to do it again next game," he said.

ICE CHIPS: Kitchener has reassigned forward James Mense-Dietrich to the Port Colborne Pirates on the Jr. B circuit. The Innisfil native was a seventh round pick in this year's draft and has played one game for the Rangers this season.